What are the schools like in Rochester, WI?

Rochester is served primarily by Burlington Area School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Rochester?

The median household income in Rochester, WI is $91,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.7%.

What is the weather like in Rochester, WI?

Rochester has an average high temperature of 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.7 inches.

Rochester, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Rochester, WI affordable or expensive?

Rochester's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rochester is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $334,200 and the median rent is $929 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Rochester, WI?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 198.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 857.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rochester, WI a Good Place to Live?

Rochester is a small town of 3,776 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $91,000 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Rochester stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rochester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Rochester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.5

Rochester's overall cost of living index is 96.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rochester costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Rochester, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$334,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$929	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Rochester's violent crime rate is 198.7 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

198.7 /100k

Property Crime

857.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Rochester is served primarily by Burlington Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Rochester, WI	National Avg
School District	Burlington Area School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rochester sees average highs of 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 37.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rochester, WI
Average High — January	28.8°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	37.7"

Demographics

Metric	Rochester, WI	National Avg
Population	3,776	—
Median Age	45.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	15.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waterford, WI 3 mi Browns Lake, WI 3 mi Burlington, WI 4 mi Tichigan, WI 6 mi Eagle Lake, WI 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Rochester

Rochester, WI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

53105 53167

Rochester vs Other Cities

Rochester, WI vs Waterford, WI Rochester, WI vs Browns Lake, WI Rochester, WI vs Burlington, WI Rochester, WI vs Tichigan, WI Rochester, WI vs Eagle Lake, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rochester, WI affordable or expensive?

Rochester's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rochester roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $334,200 and median rent is $929/month.

What is the crime rate in Rochester, WI?

Rochester's violent crime rate is 198.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 857.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rochester?

Public schools in Rochester are operated by Burlington Area School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Rochester, WI a good place to live?

Rochester, WI has a population of 3,776, a median household income of $91,000, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Rochester?

Rochester averages 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 37.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rochester?

Rochester, WI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 53105, 53167.

What is the population of Rochester?

The population of Rochester, Wisconsin is 3,776 with a median age of 45.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rochester?

Key numbers for living in Rochester: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $334,200, median household income $91,000, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rochester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.